INDIANAPOLIS — A Texas man accused of stalking WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark yelled “guilty as charged” Tuesday before a judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. declared.
Michael Thomas Lewis, 55, appeared in his first court appearance since being arrested over the weekend and accused of making a series of vulgar and threatening comments online against the Indiana Fever superstar. He used abusive language many times.
Immediately after Marion County Superior Court Judge Angela Davis entered Lewis’ case, the defendant, unprompted, yelled, “Guilty as charged.”
He later blurted out, “Throw me the book!” “I’m free! I think you picked the wrong guy!” But he also complained that he didn’t have “Jr.” in his name. In court records.
Each time Lewis spoke out of turn, a court representative wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and black sandals approached the defendant and told him to sit up straight and not interrupt.
Judge Davis read out the complaint, which alleges Lewis “threatened, threatened or threatened” Clark and caused him to have a “reasonable fear of sexual assault.” Lewis replied, “Can I say something?” Davis answered emphatically, “Not yet.”
When asked if he suffered from a mental illness, the defendant told the court, “I need medication.” Asked again if he needed a lawyer, Lewis said he needed medication.
Lewis admitted that he is not currently working because he cannot afford a lawyer. When asked if he lived in Texas, Lewis replied, “Well, I live in my car.”
He told the court he had $100 in savings and that his car, a 2016 Toyota Avalon, was worth “$100,000.”
Lewis stayed away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Fever, and signed a court order agreeing to have no contact with Clark. They were also barred from entering the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, where Clark’s boyfriend, Butler University assistant basketball coach Connor McCaffrey, works.
“If you violate the curfew or no contact order, the court will revoke your bail,” the judge told him.
Judge Davis entered a not guilty plea on Lewis’ behalf and ordered him held in lieu of $50,000 bail. If he were able to find the funds, the judge said, Lewis would be required to remain in Indiana and wear a GPS monitor.
But Lewis said he had no intention of posting bail.
“I don’t want any bond, no bail money,” he said. I’m here. ”
The court appointed defense attorney Gavin Uitflugt to represent Lewis, who declined to comment after Tuesday’s 15-minute hearing.
According to the Marion County prosecutor’s complaint, Lewis is charged with one count of stalking, which includes “repeated or continued harassment of Caitlin Clark, which would frighten a reasonable person.” He has been charged with committing a crime.
According to prosecutors, between Dec. 16 and Jan. 2, Lewis used X to harass Clark, college basketball’s all-time leading scorer and WNBA Rookie of the Year, in vulgar and sexually graphic ways. He reportedly sent a series of messages.
Police located Lewis through an IP address, linking him to the Hilton Garden Hotel at 120 W. Market Street and the downtown branch of the Indianapolis Public Library, according to a court affidavit.
